Rail-straightening machine



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.'

(No Model.)

A. J. GUSTIN.

RAIL'STRAIGHTBNING MACHINE.

Patented June 8, 1886.

N. PETERS, Phnla-Lmwgrnplwr, Washingiun. o.c

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. J. GUSTIN RAIL SIRAIGHTENING' MACHINE. No. 343,270. Patented June 8,1886.

(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 4.

A. J. GUSTIN.

RAIL STRAIGHTENING- MAGHINB.

No. 343,270. Patented June a, 1886'.

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NlTE STATES ANDREW J. GUSTIN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

RAIL-STRAI'GHTENING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 343,270, dated June 8,1886.

Appiication tiled October 14, 1882. Renewed J annnry 25, 1884. Againrenewed November 18, 1884. Again renewed July 29, 1885. Serial No.172,998. (No model.)

T0 01% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ANDREW J. GUsTIN, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk andState of Massach usetts,haveinvented certainImprovementsinRailStraighteningMachines,ofwhich the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a machine of improved construction designed forstraightening metal bars, more particularly designed, however, for thepurpose of straightening railway-rails.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine whereby crookedandirregular bars of metal may be rapidly and accurately straightened witha small expenditure of manual power, it being the intention to dispensewith a large portion of the hand-labor which was necessary in the use ofpreviously-existing machines.

Practical experience has demonstrated that the operation ofstraightening railway'rails can be effected practically only by the useof a piston or equivalent pressure device acting upon the rail betweentwo points of support therefor.

Various machines have been hitherto constructed wherein anvils orsupporting devices of various kinds designed to sustain the rail werecombined with an intermediate pressure device to act thereon. In theoperation of these machines it was necessary that the bar should berepeatedly turned or rotated while passing endwise through themachine,in order to bring one point or auotherin position to be actedupon by the pressure device. This manipulation of the iron involved agreat expenditure of manual labor and rendered the operation both slowand expensive. Moreover, the straightening ofthe rail, instead of beingeffected automatically and positively by the machine,was dependentwholly upon the skill of the attendant, who was required to detectirregularities or bends in the metal by the eye alone, and present therail accordingly to the pressure device.

It is the particular aim of my invention to produce a machine whereinthe straightening of the rail shall be effected automatically andpositively, thus avoiding the uncertainty attending the use ofpreviously-existing machines; and also, in this connection, to avoid thenecessity of turning or revolving the rail, and thereby reduce both thelabor required and the time consumed.

With these ends in view the invention consists, essentially, in thecombination,in an organized machine or apparatus, of supports or anvilsto sustain the rails, and two or more pistons or pressure devicesarranged to act upon the rail in different directions or upon differentsides; in combining with the rail guiding or supporting mechanismpressure devices adapted to act upon all four sides of said rail in suchmanner that without turning the rail pressure may be applied thereto oneither of the four sides, as may be required; in the combination of aseries of pistons or reciprocating pressure devices adapted to act upondifferent sides of the rail, combined with means for keeping saidpistons constantly in motion and advancing them toward the railsuccessively and alternately, so that the rail passing through themachine will be automatically straightened; in driving mechanismcombined with the multiple pistons in such manner as to operate the samesuccessively; in anvils or rail-supporting devices of specialarrangement, whereby the proper action of the pressure devices fromdifferent directions is permitted; in means for adjusting the ad- Vanceor movement of the pistons or pressure devices; in the combiration of aseries of pistons or pressure devices adapted to act upon a rail fromdifferent sides, with adj usting devices whereby the advance of therespective pistons or pressure devices may be regulated independently ofeach other; and in various other features and combinations which will bemore fully explained.

As will be apparent to any skilled mechanic after examination of thefollowing specification, my improvements may be embodied in variousforms and modified in various respects without changing essentially themode of action or departing from the limits of the invention. I have,however, in the accompaof the same. Fig. '3 is a transverse verticalsection on the line 90 03, Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a detail viewillustrating the manner of supporting and adjusting the anvils 0rsupports by which the rail is sustained while being subjected to theaction of the pressure devices. Fig. 5 is a cross-section onthe line g gof the preceding figure. Fig. (iis a view illustrating the manner inwhich provision is made for adjusting the stroke or advance of thepistons or pressure devices. Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line 2a, Fig. 1, illustrating the construction of the main frame. Fig. 8 is across-section through the eccentric by which one of the pistons orpressure devices is actuated, the several devices being duplicates ofeach other. Fig. 9 is a view of the lever for operating the clutch.

In proceeding to build my machine I first construct a rigid main frame,A, of the form represented in the drawings, or of any other suitableform adapted to sustain the various operating mechanisms hereinafterreferred to. Through the center of this frame I leave an opening throughwhich the rail to be straightened may be passed in a horizontaldirection. For the purpose of supporting this rail in its passagethrough the machine I mount upon suitable arms upon opposite sides ofthe main frame two horizontal rollers, O O, as plainly represented inFigs. 1, 2, and 3. These rollers are designed to sustain the weight ofthe rail, and aid, if desired, in advancing the same through themachine. As shown in Fig. 3, each of these rollers is sustained inverticallymovable boxes or bearings supported by spiral springs, wherebythe rolls are caused to sustain the rail normally above the face of theanvils by which it receives support while be ing acted upon by thepressure devices. It is not, however, necessary to sustain the rolls byyielding supports, as good results may be obtained when the rolls areseated in rigid supports, it being found in practice that the railspossess suflicient elasticity to admit of their being sprung downwardbetween the rolls a sufiicient distance to bear upon the anvils withoutreceiving a permanent set.

Opposite the four sides of the central opening through which the railpasses I locate the four reciprocating pistons or pressure devices D D Dl), which are substantially duplicates of each other, although difieringin certain minor particulars hereinafter described. It will be observedthat the plunger D is arranged to descend vertically above the rail, andthe piston D a oeud vertically beneath the same, while the remainingpistons D and I) are arranged to slide inward horizontally on oppositesides of the rail, as most clearly represented in Fig. 1. It will beobserved that by means of the pistons thus arranged pressure may beapplied to the rail 011 either of its four sides, while the rail remainsin po sition with its face resting upon the supporting-rolls.

The mechanism for advancing the pistons successively toward the railwill be hereinafter described.

In order to secure the proper'effect of the pistons when acting upon therail, it is necessary that the rail shall receive support on the sideopposite the piston at two points separated from each other to a greateror less extent. I therefore provide the machine with four pairs ofanvils or supports, E E E E, located four on one side of the pistons andthe remaining four on the opposite side.

The anvils E E, by which the rail receives support on the under side,are secured permanently in position, as plainly represented in Fig. 3;but for the purpose of adapting the machine for treating rails ofdifferent sizes and forms, and to admit of compensation for wear, &c.,the remaining anvils opposite the top and two faces of the rail arethreaded externally, in order to admit of their being adjusted byturning them to and from the rail. By thus providing for the adjustmentof the anvils they may be moved inward toward each other to any extentdesired. This adjustment, combined with an adjustment in the stroke ofthe pistons hereinafter described, adapts the machine for treating barsand rails of all sizes and forms.

The adjustable anvils E may be sustained in any suitable manner.Inasmuch, however, as it is preferred in most cases to make provisionfor changing the distance between the anvils on one side of the machineand those on the other, in order that the rail may receive support atpoints separated to a greater or less extent from each other, I preferto support the anvils in such manner that the pair acting upon each sideof the rail may be adjusted to and from each other. A simpleconstruction for securing this adjustment consists in mounting theanvils at each side of the machine in a supporting plate or frame whichis movable, so that by adjusting each plate the entire series of anvilsthereon may be shifted equally. The preferred method of constructing andsecuring this adj ustable plate or frame is clearly represented in Figs.1, 2, 3, and 4.

Referring to Fig. 4, G represents a rectangular frame or plate providedwith central opening for the passage of the rail, and having the threeanvils E E E screwed into it from opposite sides, the inner ends of theanvils being presented in proper position to sustain the rail when it iscarried loosely against them, as hereinafter explained. The frame orplate is divided, as shown, diagonally through opposite corners, and thetwo parts separated by means of intermediate wedges, a, the outer endsof which are threaded and provided with nutsb, so that by turning thenuts the wedges will be drawn outward and caused to move the two partsof the plate away from each other. The expanding-plate thus constructedis seated vertically in an upright position, with its faces transverseto the line in which the railsare passed through the machine between IIOthe four arms 0 in the main frame, and after being adjusted in therequired position is secured by simply turning the nuts, whereby theplate is expanded and caused to take a firm and rigid hold between thesustainingarms. By simply loosening the nuts the plate may be released,whereupon it may be moved to and from the pistons or pressure devices,as desired, and again secured in the desired position by turningthenuts.

It is to be understood that as regards this adjustment of the anvils toand from the intermediate pressure device my invention is not restrictedto the details represented in the drawings, as any equivalentconstruction permitting the adjustment of the anvils may be substitutedfor that herein shown.

For the pupose of operating the reciprocating pistons or pressuredevices D D l) D, I provide each one at the outer end with an open heador yoke, d, in which there revolves an eccentric, H, and a sliding blockor plate, I, in which the eccentric bears in the manner represented, sothat at each revolution of the eccentric the piston is moved forwardtoward the rail. The'retraction of the piston is effected by providingthe head or yoke with a transverse key, J, bearing upon the outer sideof the eccentric, as shown. This key, which is inclined on the outerside and secured by a set-screw, K, may be adjusted endwise, and thusserves as a means for compensating for wear and maintaining the parts inacondition to run smoothly and without play.

WVhile it is preferred to make use of the eccentric and the slidingblock as a means of operating the pistons, it is to be distinctlyunderstood that a crank and pitman, or any equivalent means known in theart, may be employed for imparting a reciprocating motion thereto.

In order to adapt the machine for treating rails of different sizes andto compensate for wear, it is advisable to construct the parts in suchmanner that the pistons may be lengthened or adjusted to advance to agreater or less extent. A simple means of securing this adjustment isclearly represented in Figs. 3 and 6. The body portion of each piston,instead of being secured to its head or yoke, is provided at the outerend'with an externallythreaded neck, 0, which is screwed into the yoke,as shown and which serves as a means of adjusting the body. endwisc withrespect to the yoke.

In order to prevent the destruction of or injury to the threaded neck, Iprovide means for relieving the same from the excessive strain to whichthe pistons are subjected. This provision consists in forming on the endof the piston,around or outside ofthe threaded neck, a spiral orinclined bearing-surface, h, which is seated upon a correspondingsurface on the head or yoke. The pitch or inclination of this spiralbGEIIlIlgSUIfZICB is adapted to correspond with the pitch of thescrew-thread, so that as the piston is adjusted by means of thescrewthread a firm and solid bearing is maintained between the inclinedfaces, which are thus caused to receive the entire strain or forceapplied in driving the pistons against the rail.

In operating the machine it is desirable that provision shall be madefor effecting the endwise adjustment of the pistons independently ofeach other without stopping the motion of the machine. For this purposeI provide a series of hand-levers, which are extended on one side of themachine in position to be readily reached by an attendant, and connectthese levers through intermediate devices with the pistons. Theseconnections are plainly represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Each pistonhas secured upon its outer end a pinion, L, which engages with a secondpinion, M, applied to a shaft, N, which has a hand-lever, O, securedupon its outer end, so that by moving the lever a rotary motion isimparted through the intermediate pinions to the body of the piston,causing the latte'rto be screwed forward or backward in relation to itsoperating-yoke.

In order that the shaft N,which adjusts the pistons on the right-handside of the machine in Fig. 2, may be lowered sufficiently to be out ofthe path of the entering rail, it is necessary to employ between itspinion and the pinion on said piston a third or intermediate pinion, P,as represented in Fig. 1.

In order that the end motion of the piston shall not disengage theadjustingpinions, the pinions L are made of greater width from the facethan the pinions M. This construction admits of the pinions L beingmoved to and fro with the pistons without being disengaged from thepinions M. It is manifest that, if preferred, the reverse arrangementmay be adopted and the pinions M made of greater width than the pinionsL.

Passing now to the means by which the series of pistons or pressuredevices are operated continuously and advanced successively toward therail, reference is made to Figs. 1 and 2. A driving-shaft is extendedhorizontally through bearings on to") of the frame, and provided at themiddle with an eccentric for operating the upper piston. Near oppositeends the shat't is provided with two mitergears, R ands. The gear Sengages with and drives the corresponding gear, T, applied to one end ofa shat't, .\vhich carries the eccentric for operating the righthandpiston, while the gear It operates a corresponding gear, U, which drivesa shalt carrying the eccentric for operating the left-hand piston. Theshaft V, by which the right-hand piston'is operated, is continueddownward and provided with a miter-gear, W, which engages with anddrives a like gear, X, applied to a horizontal shaft, Y, located in thebase of the machine, and carrying the eccentric by which t-helowerpiston is operated. It will be observed that in this manner motion isconnnunicated to all four of the pistons, which are moved forward andbackward at equal speeds. The eccentrics operating the respectivepistons are adjusted with respect to each other in suchv i propose tocombine with the driving-clutch 0 manner that the four pistons areadvanced successively one after another, so that as a rail is passedthrough the machine the pistons will be advanced toward its four sidesor faces in succession, a bend or irregularity on any one of its foursides being thus corrected automatically. It willof course be understoodthat although the pistons may advance on all sides of the rail each oneis practicallyinoperative, unless there chances to be a bend orproject-ion in the rail on that side. I

In order to admit of crooked or irregular rails being readily introducedinto the machine, it is advisable to adjust the anvils which face eachother at a distance apart greater than that which would be required forthe admission of a straight rail, or, in other words, at a distanceapart greater than the height or width of the rail, respectively, asclearly represented in Figs. 1 and 4. This adjustment admits of crookedrails being readily introduced into the machine without binding againstor being checked by theanvils. It will be understood that when theanvils are thus separated the advancing piston will be compelled tocarry the rail against the opposing anvils before the bending orstraightening action will commence. The rails will thus be movedlaterally by the horizontal pistons. In the case of the lower piston,the rail will be raised vertically against the upper anvil; but in thecase of the upper piston it will not be required to move the rail, forthe reason that the latter will rest by gravity upon thesupporting-rolls beneath.

The passage of the rail through the machine may be effected by hand, buthis preferred to cause its advance by means of power appliedautomatically to the sustaining-rollers 0.

As shown in Fig. 2, bevel or miter gears z are applied to the journalsof the supportingrolls and driven by corresponding gears, j, on oppositeends of a shaft, k. This shaft is provided with two bevel-gears orfrictionwheels, Z and m, loose thereon, which are driven by anintermediate wheel, a, mounted upon a driving-shaft. An intermediatesliding clutch, 0, connected to the shaft by a spline or feather, isadapted to engage alternately with the two wheels for the purpose ofcommunicating motion thereto. By shifting this clutch motion may betransmitted through the intermediate parts to the supporting-rollers O,causing the latter to turn forward or backward, as required, orby'placing the clutch in an intermediate position the rail sustainingand feeding rolls may be permitted to remain at rest. In this manner arail may be caused to advance continuously through the machine, or maybe caused to move backward, in the event of its being necessary to passany'given point or portion of the same a second time between thestraightening devices.

For the purpose of rendering the machine, as far as possible, automaticin its action, I

machine, it being usual in operations with the machine to advance therail at each step a distance equal to that between the two anvils orpoints of support, although this distance may be increased ordiminished, if

desired. A simple arrangement for effecting this automatic movement ofthe drivingclntch is represented in Fig. 9, whereinit will be perceivedthat a lever, 10, for operating the clutch, is connected at its upperend with an eccentric, q, mounted upon the main drivingshaft of themachine. The rotation of the shaft causes the eccentric to move thelever and shift the clutch at such intervals that the driving-rolls willbe caused to advance the rail during the interval when all the pistonsare withdrawn, and then permit the rail to remain at rest during theperiod in which the successive pistons advance. When this automaticmechanism is employed for throwing the rollfeeding devices into and outof action, the eccentric is to be so arranged that it will throw intoaction that pinion only which causes the advance of the rail, and notthe one which effects the retrograde motion. Consequently, when relianceis to be placed wholly on the automatic devices, the wheel m, foreffecting the retrograde motion, may be omitted.

While it is preferred to impart motion to both the rail-sustainingrolls, it is manifest that the driving devices may be connected with butone of said rolls.

It will be observed that in my machine the pressure devices act in rightlines and at right angles to the axis of the rail. This movement is ofthe highest importance, in that the devices while acting in onedirection have no tendency to twist or spring the rail in another. Inattempting to straighten rails by means of pressure devices which turnupon centers, it is found that the movement of the device in a curvedpath transverse to the axis of the rail has a tendency to bend or springthe latter in a direction at right angles to that in which the pressureis to be applied. Experience has demonstrated that any pressure devicewhich acts otherwise than in right lines will give unsatisfactoryresults.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a machine forstraightening rails, the combination, with four pairsof anvils or rail-IIO supports, of four separately-movable pistons or pressure devicesarranged for joint action, with the respective anvils on different sidesof the rails, whereby the machine is adapted to effect the straighteningof rails from all sides without revolving or turning said rail therein.

2-. In a machine for straightening rails, the combination,with pressuredevices to act upon the rail from different sides, of driving mechanismfor operating said pressure devices'successively, and the means,substantially as described, whereby the attendant may vary the motion ofthe pressure devices independently without arresting the motion of themachine.

3. In a rail-straightening machine, rail sustaining or guiding devicescombined with bending mechanisms arranged to exert pressure upon therail from its four sides successively, whereby an automaticstraightening of the rail is effected without turning the same over.

4. In a rail-straightening machine, the combination, with anvils tosustain the rail on one face, of a movable presser to act upon theopposite face, and automatic feed-rolls, whereby the rail is advancedintermittingly, as described.

5. The combination, with the straightening devices, of the rail-feedingrolls, driving mechanism therefor, and automatic devices where by saiddriving mechanism is periodically thrown into and out of action, wherebyeach rail is caused to advance intermittingly past the straighteningdevices.

6. The combination, with the rail-straightening mechanism, substantiallyas described, of two rolls, one or both adapted to feed the rail, thedriving gear or clutch, the eccentric for operating said clutch,connected with and driven by the shaft that operates therailstraightening mechanism, substantially as described, whereby thefeed-roll is thrown into and out of action alternately, thereby causingthe rail to be advanced intermittingly through the machine.

7. In a rail-straightening machine, a series of presser devices arrangedto act upon different sides of the rail, combined wit-h opposing anvilsor rail-supports separated from one another to an extent greater thanrequired for the admission of a straight rail between them, whereby theadmission and treatment of crooked rails are permitted.

8. In a rail-straightening machine, the combination, with four movablepresser devices acting on different sides of the rail, of two series ofanvils, each series grouped around the rail, the anvils separated tosuch an extent as to leave a free space between them and the rail as thelatter passes through the machine.

9. In a rail-straightening machine, the combination,with movable presserdevices, of corresponding anvils orsupports grouped in such manner as topermit the passage between them of the rail, the anvils opposite oneface of the rail separated from those on the other, as de-, scribed andshown, to permit lateral play of the rail, whereby the presser devicesseverally are caused to move the rail to and fro from the anvils on oneside against those on the other.

10. In a rail-straightening machine, the several combinations oflongitudinally adjustable piston, adjusting-pinions, and operatinglever,grouped, substantially as described, to control the pressure on therespective sides of the rail instantly and independently.

11. In combination with the body of the piston or presser device, theactuating-slide contance between the companion anvils may be varied.

13. The combination, with the main frame and anvils, of theanvil-sustaining frame divided and provided with adjusting-wedges,substantially as shown, whereby the ready adjustment of the anvilsispermitted.

'14. In a railstraightening machine, independently-reciprocatingpressers or straightening-pistons arranged to act on different faces ofthe stationary rail, combined with means, substantially as described,for actuating said pistons independently, and the train of driving-gearconnecting the operating mechanisms of the respective pistons with eachother, said gear arranged, substantially as described, to cause thealternate or successive action of the respective pistons.

15. In a rail-straightening machine, the series of anvils opposed toeach other to sustain the rail on opposite sides alternately,andseparated a distance sufficient to permit a slight movement of the railto and fro between them, combined with alternately-operating pressuredevices arranged to act upon opposite sides of the rail, whereby therail is subjected to the straightening action on its two sidesalternately and without being turned or revolved.

16. In a rail-straightening machine, the combination, withrail-supporting anvils arranged to bear on different sides of the rail,of two or more sliding pressure devices opposed to the respectiveanvils,eccentrics acting to move the pressure devices, and gearconnecting said eccentrics, the parts being so arranged as to cause thesuccessive action of the different pistons.

ANDRElV J. GUSTIN.

\Vitnesses:

PHILIP T. DODGE, WILLIAM H. SHIPLEY.

